Past abilities D. Complete the dialogues with could or was able to.
For example:
1 A: Can you use a PC?
B: Yes, I can. In fact, I could use a PC when I was 12! (general ability)
2 A: So, were you late for the interview?
B: No. Sue gave me a lift, so I was able to get there in time. (one occasion)
1 A: What foreign languages can you speak?
B: I speak Italian quite fluently when I was a child, but I’ve
forgotten a lot.
2 A: What was your greatest achievement in your previous job?
B: Well, I reorganise the Sales Department in less than a
month.
3 A: What did you like best about your previous job?
B: Well, my boss really trusted me, so I use my own initiative
at all times.
4 A: So you worked in Turkey three years ago. Could you give us
some details?
B: Certainly. As a matter or fact, I win a very important
contract.
5 C: So how did the interview go?
B: Fine, I think. I answer all the questions!
Bad Day
Every day in our lives we have to go through different events, both good and bad. There are days that give us lots of headache, we call them bad days. I’d like to tell you about one of those days.
My morning was no different from those I normally have. However, I knew there is an important test ahead. Our teacher of Maths calls it a final exam of the year. So, you can imagine how important it was for everyone. I spent a week preparing for this test. As I said, my morning went quite well, but since the time I stepped out into the street the minor problems and misfortunes began.
At first, I realized that I’d forgotten to take my lunch box, so I had to return. As people in my country say, coming back home can be a portent of bad luck. And that’s exactly how it worked for me on that day. I came back and went towards the school again. It is twenty minutes away from my home. On a way it started to rain. I guess it’s needless to say that I was without an umbrella. Luckily my anorak was in the bag. Its hood saved me from the heavy rain.
When I got to school I realized I was late for test. My teacher doesn’t normally let the latecomers to enter the classroom. This time she was in good mood and decided to make an exception. I wish she hadn’t though, as the test turned out to be really difficult. I should confess, Maths is not my favourite subject. I prefer humanitarian sciences instead, whereas my best friend and classmate Liza prefers mathematical sciences. So, we try to help each other in case there is a difficult topic. However this time was different. Liza was angry with me as we had a big argument a few days ago. For that reason, she refused to help me.
In the end, I did badly in the test and was rather sad. I thought the second part of the day would be a little better, but as ill luck would have it, my mom gave away my favourite kitten. She said she didn’t want any pets running around the house. As you see, bad days happen and they can be indeed upsetting